Nickname:
After playing as the Yellowjackets in the United States Amateur Hockey Association,
ownership wanted a higher profile name so he changed the name to Pirates
upon realizing the similar colors they had to Pittsburgh's baseball team.

First Game Played November 26, 1925
Last Game Played March 1930
Moved to
Philadelphia in 1930

Coaches: (2)

Odie Cleghorne 1925/26-1928/29
Frank Fredrickson 1929/30

Arenas: (1)

Duquesne Gardens 1925/26-1929/30

Historical Moments:

1925/26: The Pittsburgh Pirates one of two new American teams to join the NHL a year after
the Boston Bruins became the first American based NHL team. The Pirates roots
go back to 1915 when they were the Amateur Pittsburgh Yellowjackets. The Yellowjackets
played in the USAHA (United States Amateur Hockey Association.) After winning
the USAHA Championship in 1924 and 1925 the Yellowjackets are sold to attorney
James F. Callahan who wanted to get the team into a professional league.
The NHL would grant the renamed Pirates "semi-expansion" status their first season.
On November 26th the Pirates, who had ten former Yellowjackets on their roster
beat the Boston Bruins on the road in their very first game. Two nights late
the Pirates would stun the Canadiens in Montreal 1-0 in what would end up being
legendary Habs goalie George Vezina's final game. The Pirates, who were the
first team to change players on the fly, would go on to finish in third place
with a record of 19-16-1. In the playoffs the Pirates would be beaten by the eventual
Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Maroons.
1926/27: As the NHL got sole possession of the Stanley Cup the NHL adds three more American
franchises and sets up an American Division. In their second season the Pirates
would struggle missing the playoffs with a record of 15-26-3. The highlight
of the season came on December 26th when the Pirates and New York Americans combined
for a single game record 141 shots. The Americans would win 3-1 as the Pirates
made 68 of the history making total. 1927/28: In their third season the Pirates made it back into the playoffs by finishing in
third place with a record of 19-17-8. However, in the playoffs the Pirates would
be beaten by the New York Rangers in a total goal series 6-4. As their 4-2 win
in Game 2 could not overcome a 4-0 white washing that they suffered in Game 1.
Following the season the Pirates who were facing a financial crunch were forced
to sell off several off their top players. The team itself would also be sold
as an ownership group which included Benny Leonard, a fight promoter and ex-lightweight
boxing champion purchased the team.
1928/29: Under new management the Pirates struggled finishing in fourth place with a woeful
record of 9-27-6. 1929/30: Hit hard by the October stock market crash, the Pirates who were now wearing Orange
and Black uniforms would win just five games on the season as they finished
in last place with a league worst 5-36-3. With the Steel industry struggling,
the Pirates owners were $400,000 in debt as they sought permission to move to Philadelphia
with the possibility of returning to Pittsburgh if a new arena was
built.1967/68: The Great Depression would devastate the NHL as four teams were forced to fold leaving
behind just six teams. The NHL would play with six teams for 25 years
before deciding to expand in 1967, with a team added to Pittsburgh named the Penguins.